German
mineralogist Georgius Agricola is known for his important compilations
of alchemical recipes and techniques in the 16th century included the "de
re Metallica" ("About Metallic Things", 1556). His real name was Georg
Bauer (1494-1555). He was born in Saxony and educated in medicine in Italy.
In 1527 he became the physician for Joachimsthal and took up the study
of mineralogy and geology. His masterwork was published the year after
his death, at which time he was the burgomaster of the city of Chemnitz
(now Karl-Marx Stadt). The work became a textbook and manual for miners
for almost two centuries. One or more of his works can be found in the
library at Joseph Curwen's Providence home.
Oddly there was a second Agricola named Rodolphus Agricola about whom information can be found in the Dictionary of the Middle Ages, 4:171a.
[The Case of Charles Dexter Ward - H.P.L.]